Morning light drapes itself across the old port of Saint-Tropez, catching the hulls of moored yachts as the town slowly wakes. Amid the gentle clatter of rigging and the scent of salt air, a new silhouette stands out. Sleek, composed, and quietly assured, the Santasevera 52 arrives not as a show of power but as an expression of calm confidence, a modern interpretation of Mediterranean yachting.
The yacht is the work of Italian designer and naval architect Francesco Guida, who has spent years shaping vessels for established shipyards before founding Santasevera, his own venture into contemporary yacht design. With the 52, he sets out to redefine what an open cruiser can be. It is not a boat built to impress from afar, but one meant to be lived with. Every detail is measured, every line deliberate.
At 15.75 metres, the Santasevera 52 sits comfortably between intimacy and scale. Its proportions carry a certain composure, revealing a layout that feels generous without excess. From the quay, the eye follows a clear flow from the broad swim platform through to the cockpit, where an arrangement of seating and open space invites both sociability and stillness. A sunpad stretches across the stern, while a sofa and central dining area offer room for conversation or quiet reading. The sense of continuity between deck and sea is effortless, it feels as though the yacht breathes with the water.
The hardtop above adds another layer of poise. It shades without enclosing, preserving that open-air feeling that defines the Mediterranean style of cruising. At the helm, three forward-facing seats bring the skipper and guests together, sharing the experience of motion. Cruising at around 30 knots, the 52 holds itself with agility and grace, cutting cleanly through the water without fuss or flourish.
Step below deck and the mood changes. The design slows down. Oak panelling and muted fabrics create a space that feels warm and grounded, more like a coastal retreat than a cabin. The full-beam owner’s suite offers privacy and comfort, paired with a generous en-suite. A second cabin aft welcomes guests with the same quiet attention to detail. Nothing is loud, nothing is overstated. It is a yacht that values the subtler side of craftsmanship, the feel of the wood beneath the fingertips, the balance of light across the interior.
The Santasevera 52 is built entirely in Italy, yet its appeal feels universal. There is a certain purity to its intent, to bring back the pleasure of yachting as something deeply human, rooted in connection and simplicity rather than spectacle. Guida’s philosophy places people, not machinery, at the centre of the experience. He speaks of “an idea of yachting that’s enjoyable, refined, and instantly recognisable.”
That sentiment finds its proof here, in the quiet geometry of the design and in the way the yacht carries itself at sea. It is contemporary, yes, but not caught in fashion. It feels like something that will age well, not only in form but in spirit.
Now, as autumn softens the Côte d’Azur, the Santasevera 52 continues to turn heads along the waterfront. The crowds have thinned, the air is cooler, and the pace has slowed, yet the yacht feels perfectly at home. It glides out of the port with an ease that mirrors the place itself: sophisticated but unhurried, stylish but understated. In a world where so much design chases attention, this yacht takes a different course. It speaks softly, letting craftsmanship, proportion, and the joy of the sea tell its story.
